Bismuth - a pleasant surprise

[ChrisPackham]

I haven’t really shot much Bismuth, I don’t tend to raise my gun on the duck drive anymore unless I see something with a leg down so I don’t have much experience of it.

For our species day we decided to use Bismuth as we weren’t sure what would get up when. Having used it on the day I was pleasantly surprised how effective it was (compared to steel which doesn’t really work) and it seemed to perform as well as normal lead cartridges, 32g 5 stopping a close range fox on the spot and also a reasonable goose.

Having prepared the game last night it was a further pleasant surprise to see no more meat damage than normal (a criticism from some of Bismuth)

I’m convinced it’s as effective as standard lead, definately at walked up shooting, it’s a shame that’s it’s so damned expensive!

 

[Jonny English]

I have shot some of the new gamebore bismuth and it was excellent. Apparently gamebore used to import the bismuth shot but struggled with it shattering with the velocity, supposedly they now make there own and have made the recipe a lot better to stop it shattering.

 

[Garwood]

Like wise ,I use very few Bismuth cartridges each season but have been impressed with the Eley stuff I have at the moment. Shall try the Gamebore option at some point ,but have not found any for sale up to now.Used some Gamebore steel in 20b this year and it was ok at sensible range.

Cost is bismuths only downfall really ,isn`t it ?

 

[ChrisPackham]

Like wise ,I use very few Bismuth cartridges each season but have been impressed with the Eley stuff I have at the moment. Shall try the Gamebore option at some point ,but have not found any for sale up to now.Used some Gamebore steel in 20b this year and it was ok at sensible range.

Cost is bismuths only downfall really ,isn`t it ?

It was Gamebore we used, seemed to be softer on shoulder than Eley used last season but no direct comparison.

Yes, cost is pretty horrendous but I only use a couple of boxes per year so not too bad..

I have shot some of the new gamebore bismuth and it was excellent. Apparently gamebore used to import the bismuth shot but struggled with it shattering with the velocity, supposedly they now make there own and have made the recipe a lot better to stop it shattering.

Makes sense, it was the Gamebore we used.

 

[Garwood]

I do find the Eleys harsh on recoil ....have to get hold of some Gamebore !

 

[ChrisPackham]

I do find the Eleys harsh on recoil ....have to get hold of some Gamebore !

I was impressed by them, if it wasn’t for cost they would suit 80 - 90% of my game and Vermin shooting..

 

[AW13]

Confess I knew very little about bismuth so a Wiki read found this.

Did'nt realise it was slightly radio active!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bismuth

 

[Doug Pinnegar]

Out of curiosity I just looked at the prices.

£1,600 a thousand for the best on JustCartridges 

 

[ChrisPackham]

Out of curiosity I just looked at the prices.

£1,600 a thousand for the best on JustCartridges 

I pay 23-50 per box for 32g no5 locally, which is painful enough... (hence bought by the box)

 

[westley]

(compared to steel which doesn’t really work) 

Careful now  !        you will have half the population of PW coming down upon you describing how they shot pigeons at 150 yards with 28 grams of 6 shot 'steel'    :lol:

Did'nt realise it was slightly radio active!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bismuth

Hmmmm  !  I have a Wife who is about to become 'slightly radioactive'    ?

 

[ChrisPackham]

Careful now  !        you will have half the population of PW coming down upon you describing how they shot pigeons at 150 yards with 28 grams of 6 shot 'steel'    :lol:

Hmmmm  !  I have a Wife who is about to become 'slightly radioactive'    ?

Ah Pigeonwatch, where 10% of members shoot and 10% of those know what they are talking about .... never was the expression ‘ better to have people think of you as a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt’ more apt...